Loop-control mechanism



April 28, 1931. c. A. SENTOU ET AL l;802,621

LOOP CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1

INVENTORS Fig 4:

ATTORNEY Fatented Apr. 28, 11931 STATES PATENT. OFFICE 013 A. SENTOU ANDETIENNE J'AGQUET, OE ron'r LEE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO EASTMAN KODAKCOMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LOOP-CONTROLMECHANISM Application filed February 6, 1922. Serial NO. 534,342.

This invention relates to film apparatus having a loop controlmechanism. One object of the invention is to provide such a mechanismwhich will maintain the size of a the loop within the desired limitsautomatically. Other objects will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, certain parts T16 being in section, showinga specific embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the loop controllingparts in a position differing from that in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the brake mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the adjustable armof the brake;

lFi 6 is a perspective view of the friction mem er of the brake.

Apparatus has come into use in which motion picture film isautomatically and continuously moved through various fluid 2B treatingbaths and finally dried. In Patent No. 1,385,403, July 26,1921, we havedisclosed a propelling means for the film in such apparatus, this meansincluding a system for controlling the lengths of the film loops. Whenthe film issues from the drying cabinet, it is desirable to maintain aloop the size of which is kept within definite limits. We have foundthat this object can be obtained by embodying the principle disclosed inour prior patent in a specifically different loop controlling system.Instead of moving the propellin means, such as rollers, at a constantspee and shifting the film to portions of the rolls of differentdiameters, we have found that proper control can preferably be obtainedby varying the speed of the propelling means or rolls themselves. Whilewe shall illustrate this improvement in connection with a film treatingapparatus, the invention is not limited thereto, except as indi cated inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates conventionally a fragmentarysection of a fluid treating apparatus, such, for example, as a dryingcabinet. The film F passes over the roll 2 through a slot in the cabinetand over the roll 3, from which it is advanced into a downwardlyextending loop containing the flanged roll 5, said loop terminating atthe rolls 6 and 7. Of the latter, 6 is an idler roll, while 7 is adriven roller, which moves the film between it and roll 6 in a directionto remove it from the loop and feed it to hub 8 which, with its woundfilm, rests upon and is moved by rolls 11-12. These may be driven in anysuitable manner. We have indicated conventionally a-belt 13 passing overa pulley 10 and pulleys 11' and 12 the latter being connected with therolls 1112, while pulley 10 is driven by motor 15, the base of thelatter resting upon the support 4:. Roll 3 can be driven in the same wayas the similar roll 7 in our earlier Patent 1,385,403, July 26, 1921,for Machine for treating photographic moving picture films, by means ofa bevel gear 60 on its shaft 61 meshing with a bevel car 62 on the maindrive shaft 63 of the fluid treating apparatus 1, driven from the mainmotor (not shown) of said apparatus. This drives the roll 3 at therelative peripheral speed hereinafter described,namely, substantiallythe same peripheral speed as the normal adjusted peripheral speed ofroll 7. One effect of roll 5, which is not fully counterbalanced, ashereinafter explained, is to hold the film F in driving contact withroll 3; but any of the known expedients for insuring such contact can beused such as the one disclosed in our hereinabove cited patent.

The propelling roll 7 is mounted on shaft 25 which turns in bearing 26on su port 4. This shaft is rotated by means 0 pulley adapted to thislocation. We ave indicated by way of example a casin 27 threaded at 28to receive a threaded col ar 29 having.

a tapered bore 33 at one end which enga es the tapered fin ers 34 offriction mem er 35, said fingers eing formed by slots 37 in said member.The collar 29 has attached to it, by means of screws 32, a disk shapedportion 31 of control arm17. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 5, theangular relation of 17 to collar 29 can be varied by adjusting the bolts32 in slots 32'. The. disk has in its center an opening which clearsshaft 25, as does collar 29 at the end of member 17 Opposite to the disk31 there is located on 17 a transverse slotted portion 40 through whichpasses a vertical cord or other suitable flexible element 20.

Cord 20 is connected at its lower end to an eye 23 on stirrup 24, whichcarries the freely rotating roll 5. At its upper end cord 20 passes overidler roll 22 and thence downward to a counterweight 21. The latter ispreferably somewhat less in weight than the roll 5, so that said rollhas a tendency to move downward under the force of gravity to extend thefilm loop and rest upon the bottom of it. On the cord 20 are fastened,in any preferred manner, contact elements or buttons 18 and 19. Theseare spaced apart, 18 being above the slotted member 40 of control arm 17while button 19 is below said control member. I

In operation, the film F moves through the fluid treating apparatus andout of the dryer at a speed which is found best for such treatment.Since it is advanced to the loop at this speed, it is necessary that itbe removed from such loop at substantially the same speed to keep theloop size within limits. Roll 7 will tend to rotate fast enough toremove the film from. the loop, so as to keep the latter approximatelyconstant. In practice, variations in the constancy of the film speedand, therefore, in the length of the loop tend to occur. The disk 31 isso adjusted initially by means of bolts 32 and slots 32 that, when themember 17 is substantially horizontal, collar 28 will press to the rightamount on fingers 34 on friction member 35 to restrain the shaft 25 downto the correct speed, the belt 14 slipping on pulley 16 slightly ifnecessary.

s will be seen from the drawing, the peripheral speed of rolls 11 and 12will be the same as that of roll 7 when the latter is moved at itsmaximum speed without slipping of belt 14 on pulley 16. But when thespeed of roll 7 is lessened by the brake and belt 14 slips on pulley 16,film F will be under some tension as it enters the coil on hub 8, andconsequently slippage occurs at the frictional points of the train 10,13, 11', 12', 11, 12, which transmits rotation to the film coil on saidhub 8.

If the loop lengthens, it will, when it reaches a limit, lower the roll5 and consequently pull down the rope 20 until contact 18 engagescontrol member 17 and presses the latter downwardly, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 2. This rotates collar 29 in a direction tolessenthe pressure on fingers 34 of friction member 25. Of course, thefriction member 35 is always substantially stationary, due to its largesurface contact with casing 27. I This lessens the brake on shaft 25 andaccelerates slightly the rotation of the latter. When the shaft 25increases in speed, roll 7, which moves therewith, will turn morerapidly and temporarily remove film from the 100 faster than it isadvanced to said loop. T is shortens the loop and raises the roll 5,thereby lifting the contact 18 from the member 17. The latter may bebiased towards a horizontal position by means of weak springs,not shown,but this is not absolutel essential.

If, on the ot er hand, the loop becomes temporarily shortened to itssmaller limit of size, the roll 5 will be raised so far that contact 19,pulled upward by counterweight 21, will contact and raise control member17, thereby turning collar 29 in a direction to compress fingers 34 andincrease the braking action on shaft 25. This slows down the latter, sothat film is advanced to the loop faster than it is removed from it,thereby len thening the loop until roll 5 descends su ciently to bringcontact 19 away from control member 17 While we have shown the apparatusas adapted for the handling of unperforated film, the rollers beinflanged, it will be evident that erforate film could likewise be handledwithout any modification. While we do not prefer it, the apparatus couldbe furnished with sprockets to engage perforated film, but this wouldlimit the scope of such modification to the handling of perforatedstock, whereas the .preferred embodiment will handle both kinds of film.

'Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

, 1. In asfilm developing apparatus, the combination of: a drive roller;means for rotating said drive roller; a driven floating roller, therebeing a film wound around said drive and driven rollers; means forcontrolling the rate of rotation of said drive roller, said controlmeans having a brake arranged to engage said drive roller; and a memberenergized by movement of said floating roller relative to said driveroller to actuate said control means, thus 0 erating said brake.

2. In a film deve oping apparatus, the combination of: a drive roller;means for rotating said drive roller; a driven floating roller arrangedbelow said driver roller,

there being a film wound around said drive and driven rollers; means forcontrolling the rate of rotation of said drive roller; and a memberenergized by movement of said floating roller relative to said driveroller to actuate said control means so that the rate of rotation ofsaid drive roller is reduced when said floating roller moves toward saiddrive roller,

Signed at New York, New York this 18th day of January, 1922. V

' CAMILLE A. SENTOU.

ETIENNE JACQUET.

